Baked Feta & Tomato Pasta

Fresh, cheesy and so simple too! This lightened up version of TikTok’s viral pasta dish will keep you coming back for more! (Plus a few ideas for other ways you can use this sauce too!)

This lightened up version of baked feta pasta is so rich and delicious you'll keep making it againa and again! It's made with less oil, a fresh squeeze of lemon and a few other added spices too!

If you’ve been anywhere on social media lately, I’m sure you’ve come across this recipe at some point or another. This is the pasta that made all the grocery stores in Finland completely – run. out. of. feta! Can you believe that?! But after just one bite of this insanely easy dish, I could definitely understand why – it’s sooo good! So this is my take on the original baked feta and tomato pasta recipe and trust me loves, this one’s a keeper!

Baked feta is a simple meal made with minimal ingredients that is loaded with so much flavor! You can make it as a pasta, turn it into a dip or even add shrimp or chicken to it too!

Ingredients for your baked feta & tomato pasta

  • Dry pasta: I love using cavatappi pasta for this recipe because it’s such a fun shape! That being said, you can also use your favorite type of short pasta too. (A few of my other favorites are rotini, bowties and penne.)
  • Block feta: You can use regular, reduced fat or fat free feta for this recipe. (I would personally reccommend using regular feta though because it has a much stronger flavor.)
  • Cherry tomatoes: I LOVE using cherry tomatoes for this pasta because they’re so much more flavorful! (And there’s no additional cutting involved too. 😉 ) When picking tomaotes, look for ones that are bright red and plump for the best flavor.
  • Red onion: Adds a little crunch and really ups the flavor of your dish. (You can also use white onion instead too or completely omit if you don’t like onion.)
  • Fresh basil: Adds so much freshness and compliments you flavors so well! (I wouldn’t suggest using dried basil in place of fresh becasue fresh has a much stronger flavor.)
  • Garlic: Adds some aromatics to your dish.
  • Olive oil: Helps the sauce to really stick to your pasta. (Almost any type of oil will work for this!)
  • Lemon juice: Helps to brighten up your dish and elevates it’s salty flavors.
  • Seasonings: salt, pepper, Italian seasoning & crushed red pepper flakes: Brings out each individual flavor of your dish and adds a little bit of spice too!

How I lightened up this baked feta pasta

The original recipe calls for a 1/2 cup of olive oil and to be honest, that just seemed like way to much to me. So instead I only used 1 Tbsp of oil and added 1 Tbsp of fresh lemon juice too to give it a brighter and more refreshing feel. You can also used reduced fat or fat free feta instead of regular to slim it down even more!

The dish that went viral on TikTok! Baked feta is quick, easy and exploding with fresh Mediterranean flavors too!

How to make baked feta pasta

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and spray a large baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Next add your tomatoes, red onion, garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to the dish and stir it all together. Then place your block of feta in the center of the tomatoes and bake for 30-35 minutes.
  3. While the feta is baking, cook your pasta according the package’s directions. Drain it and set it aside.
  4. Once the feta is done, remove it from the oven and add your lemon juice, fresh basil and red pepper flakes. Then mash the feta and tomaotes together with a fork to make your sauce.
  5. Next add your pasta to the baking dish and toss it together until it’s fully coated. Serve immediately with extra basil sprinkled on top!
A simple sauce made by baking a block of feta cheese with tomatoes, lemon juice and garlic and pour over your favorite type of pasta! It's an easy 30 minute meal that's perfect for the week nights!

Other ways to use baked feta

Ok, so maybe pasta isn’t your thing…well don’t to worry loves because I’ve got you covered! The good news is that there’s so many different ways you can prepare this dish that are just as tasty too! Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Baked Feta Dip: As soon as the feta comes out of the oven, stir in your basil, lemon juice and red pepper flakes into the tomatoes and serve it immediately with your favorite chips, crackers or crostinis!
  • Baked Feta Shrimp: After 20 minutes of cooking, take your feta out of the oven and add some raw shrimp to your tomatoes. Then place the dish back in the oven and cook for 8-10 more minutes or until the shrimp is cooked all the way through. Serve immediately.
  • Chicken with Baked Feta Sauce: Season both sides of your chicken with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning and place them in a baking dish. After 10 minutes of cooking your feta, place your chicken in oven alongside the feta and allow it to cook for 20-25 mintues. (Internal temp should be 160 degrees) Once they’re both done, transfer the chicken to your baked feta dish and coat it with your sauce. Serve immediately.
More recipes you might like:

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Easy Baked Feta Pasta

Fresh, cheesy and absolutely delicious! This easy dish is made by baking a block of feta and cherry tomatoes together with a few other spices until it turns into a rich cheesy pasta sauce! It's so simple and so flavorful you'll never guess this recipe is a lightened up version too!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: Easy, Mediterranean, Vegetarian
Keyword: baked, easy, feta, lightened up, pasta
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Caitlin

Ingredients

  • 8 oz dry cavatappi pasta (can be replaced with your favorite short pasta)
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 1 8oz. block feta cheese
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup red onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • cup fresh basil, sliced thin
  • ½ tsp Italian seasoning
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Next add your tomatoes, red onion, garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to the dish and stir it all together. Place your block of feta in the center of the tomatoes and place your dish in the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
  • While the feta is baking, cook your pasta according the package's directions. Drain it and set it aside.
  • Once the feta is done, remove the dish from the oven and add your lemon juice, fresh basil and red pepper flakes. Then mash the feta and tomatoes together with a fork to make your sauce. Next add your pasta to the baking dish and toss it together until it's fully coated. Serve immediately with extra basil on top.

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